In what has been said of other parties I have tried to show why they
should not be supported by the common people, least of all by
workingmen, and I think I have shown clearly enough that such workers as
do support them are guilty, consciously or unconsciously, of treason to
their class. They are voting into power the enemies of labor and are
morally responsible for the crimes thus perpetrated upon their
fellow-workers and sooner or later they will have to suffer the
consequences of their miserable acts.
The Socialist party is not, and does not pretend to be, a capitalist
party. It does not ask, nor does it expect the votes of the capitalist
class. Such capitalists as do support it do so seeing the approaching
doom of the capitalist system and with a full understanding that the
Socialist party is not a capitalist party, nor a middle class party, but
a revolutionary working class party, whose historic mission it is to
conquer capitalism on the political battle-field, take control of
government and through the public powers take possession of the means of
wealth production, abolish wage-slavery and emancipate all workers and
all humanity.
The people are as capable of achieving their industrial freedom as they
were to secure their political liberty, and both are necessary to a free
nation.
The capitalist system is no longer adapted to the needs of modern
society. It is outgrown and fetters the forces of progress. Industrial
and commercial competition are largely of the past. The handwriting
blazes on the wall. Centralization and combination are the modern forces
in industrial and commercial life. Competition is breaking down and
co-operation is supplanting it.
The hand tools of early times are used no more. Mammoth machines have
taken their places. A few thousand capitalists own them and many
millions of workingmen use them.
All the wealth the vast army of labor produces above its subsistence is
taken by the machine owning capitalists, who also own the land and the
mills, the factories, railroads and mines, the forests and fields and
all other means of production and transportation.
Hence wealth and poverty, millionaires and beggars, castles and caves,
luxury and squalor, painted parasites on the boulevard and painted
poverty among the red lights.
Hence strikes, boycotts, riots, murder, suicide, insanity, prostitution
on a fearful and increasing scale.
The capitalist parties can do nothing. They are a part, an iniquitous
part, of the foul and decaying system.
There is no remedy for the ravages of death.
Capitalism is dying and its extremities are already decomposing. The
blotches upon the surface show that the blood no longer circulates. The
time is near when the cadaver will have to be removed and the atmosphere
purified.
In contrast with the Republican and Democratic conventions, where
politicians were the puppets of plutocrats, the convention of the
Socialist party consisted of workingmen and women fresh from their
labors, strong, clean, wholesome, self-reliant, ready to do and dare for
the cause of labor, the cause of humanity.
Proud indeed am I to have, been chosen by such a body of men and women
to bear aloft the proletarian standard in this campaign, and heartily do
I endorse the clear and cogent platform of the party which appeals with
increasing force and eloquence to the whole working class of the
country.
To my associate upon the national ticket I give my hand with all my
heart. Ben Hanford typifies the working class and fitly represents the
historic mission and revolutionary character of the Socialist party.